A natural athletic ability, physical appearance, strong math aptitude or even a strong metabolism are all traits you could inherit from your family that you might be very proud of. But there are other predispositions that you could inherit that could put your health at risk and being aware of them could save your life. One such disease for men is prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer starts in the prostate, a small gland in men that helps produce semen which is found just below the bladder. Having close relatives with prostate cancer, especially a father or brother, can significantly increase a man’s risk of developing it and the younger the relative was when they were diagnosed, the higher the risk. A family history of breast cancer is also associated with increased prostate cancer risk.
In fact, up to 60% of a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer can be due to a genetic mutation such as BRCA2. Here, a family history of breast or prostate cancer may point to an inherited genetic mutation, such as BRCA2, which can significantly increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer. The risk is also higher for men who have a brother with the disease than for those who have a father with it.
Some inherited genes that increase the risk of prostate cancer are also more common in men of African ancestry, which may partly explain why Black men are more likely to develop prostate cancer and often at younger ages.
According to Andrew Oberholzer, the CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa, prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in South African men. International data shows that Black males have a 60% higher risk for prostate cancer and are more likely to get an aggressive type of cancer at a younger age. International data shows that about one in four Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer versus one in eight white males.
According to Oberholzer, Black African men are even more prone to develop an aggressive form of prostate cancer than Black American men. Research efforts are ongoing throughout Africa to try and identify the genes responsible for this.
“There are usually no symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages, so unless you’re screening regularly, you may not benefit from the early detection of the cancer when it is potentially curable,” says Oberholzer. The good news is that being diagnosed with prostate cancer early usually means there are many treatment options available and most people with the disease can be successfully treated.
A Prostate-Specific Antigen or PSA test is a blood test that measures the level of PSA, a protein produced by the prostate gland. While low levels of PSA are normal, higher levels may indicate prostate problems such as an enlarged prostate and infection or prostate cancer. A PSA test that is elevated will often occur before you have any symptoms of prostate cancer. Should the test show high levels, men will usually be referred to a urologist for further investigation.
Men at higher risk for prostate cancer, including Black African men and those with a family history of breast or prostate cancer, should consider going for an annual PSA screening at the age of 40. For men with an average risk, screening should start at the age of 45 .
It is important to note that having one or more risk factors does not mean that a man will definitely develop prostate cancer and that many men who get prostate cancer may have had no known risk factors.
Prostate cancer survivor, Thulani Sibisi, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Patient Affairs Board at the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa, says that his father died of prostate cancer, even though at the time, he didn’t know he had it. His experience has made him passionate about educating men about the importance of screening and awareness about the disease.
David Lucas, another prostate cancer survivor, says that he had no known genetic link and when he was diagnosed at the age of 53, he had no symptoms at all and the possibility of having prostate cancer had never crossed his mind. Both Lucas and Sibisi are proud supporters of the annual Hollard Daredevil Run – an initiative that raises awareness about prostate and testicular cancer and encourages men to talk more openly and proactively take ownership of their health. This event sees men and boys around South Africa run 5km wearing only a purple Speedo and reinforces the message that early detection of prostate and testicular cancer saves lives.
This year’s event will be taking place on Friday, 31 October at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg, while others can register to run on their own or in groups with friends, family or colleagues anywhere in the country. For more information, go to www.hollard.co.za/daredevilrun or to register, go to Ticketpro. For anyone wanting to help this year’s Hollard Daredevil Run raise even more funds, please support us on our BackABuddy platform.
